TIMERGARA, April 14: District Nazim Dir Lower Alamzeb Khan Advocate has asked the district authorities to take prompt measures for the promotion of education so that the prevailing literacy rate could be improved.

The Nazim was speaking at a meeting convened to review the performance as well as problems of the education department here on Monday.

He said that the promotion of education was the top priority of the district government and necessary steps would be taken to remove the shortage of staff as well as resolve other problems hindering the progress of this vital sector.

Mr Khan stressed the need for introducing the system of “Saza-wa-Jaza” in the public sector schools so that the teachers showing good performance were rewarded, while those giving bad results were punished with a view to better their performance.

Taking notice of the absenteeism of teaching staff in various schools of the district, he directed the concerned authorities to conduct surprise raids on such schools and take strict action against the teachers showing negligence or laxity in their duties.

He called upon the elected representatives, parents as well as education officials to come forward and play their positive role in promoting education in the district.

The meeting also debated the problems and hardships facing the education department and it was decided that similar meetings would be held after every two months to review the progress.

The meeting was also attended by the district coordination officer, Mohammad Ishfaq Khan, EDO (education) Gul Nawaz Khan, district officers education Haji Abdur Rehman Khan and Hafiz Mohammad Ibrahim Khan.